Chapter 169: Being a Spy is Not Easy

Their office was now exactly what Hu Meili dreamed of: a cup of tea, a newspaper, and the day would just drift by.

Lin Xiangnan slept well and had plenty of sleep, so he didn’t feel like sleeping at all. He could only flip the newspaper in his hand and continue reading the news.

On a very small page, Lin Xiangnan saw that a certain city had achieved remarkable results in family planning, with the birth rate dropping by several points last year.

“It seems like there’s been more news about family planning lately,” Lin Xiangnan joked to his colleagues in the office. “Those of you who want to have children should hurry up, in case something changes later.”

“I’ve noticed that too. It’s not even the end of the first month, and the Women’s Federation comrades have come to promote it twice.”

“You newlyweds should be the ones to hurry up. I have three children, and I’m not planning to have any more.”

Sun Yi lifted his newspaper from his face and chimed in, “The slogan they have is pretty good too. Too many children, it tires the parents, a lifetime of hardship. I have many siblings, and my dad died of exhaustion at fifty. My family has two children, just right, I couldn’t handle more.”

China’s current economic production capacity couldn’t afford so many people. There were still many people who couldn’t afford to eat.

Even if they couldn’t afford it, with the current situation, only children were still very rare. Unless the parents were in poor health, most couples would have two or three children.

Sun Yi felt that his family having two children was already considered few. He asked Lin Xiangnan, “Why are you so concerned about this? Are you planning to have another child?”

Lin Xiangnan shook his head, “No more. I have both a son and a daughter, that’s enough.”

Many years ago, the family planning policy had already been implemented, but now it was gradually tightening.

Lin Xiangnan could see the signs from both the newspapers and the propaganda. Someone who had been paying attention to this wouldn’t miss it.

Less than a month after arriving at the family compound, Hu Meili received a letter from Lin Xiangxi, informing her of something.

“Director Zhou invited your brother to dinner at his house! What does Director Zhou mean by that?” Hu Meili anxiously asked Lin Xiangnan.

“He’s probably checking out his future son-in-law,” Lin Xiangnan said calmly. “It’s definitely not just ordinary concern for an employee. You’ve been in the factory for so many years, and you’ve never been to the director’s house for dinner.”

Hu Meili felt sorry for Lin Xiangdong in advance, “He’s checking out his future son-in-law? Director Zhou must have called Xiao Dong to his house to scold him.”

Their family was just an ordinary worker family. Director Zhou was an old revolutionary, with many brothers and friends, all of whom held high positions. If he wanted to marry off his daughter, he had many choices, why would he choose Lin Xiangdong?

In Hu Meili’s eyes, Zhou Kangmei was just the one who was eager to get married, and Director Zhou wouldn’t approve of it. Now, she was even dragging Lin Xiangdong into it to be scolded.

“Mom, what are you worrying about? Didn’t your little brother say in his letter that your brother acted like usual?”

“That idiot of yours, how could he tell what someone’s expression means?”

“Then let your little brother investigate and report back.”

Except for that dinner at Director Zhou’s house, Lin Xiangdong’s life remained unchanged.

Lin Xiangxi received the task and observed for a long time, but couldn’t find anything. So he directly came clean.

“Brother, you don’t want me to tell Mom about this, do you?”

Lin Xiangdong rubbed his temples helplessly, “I told you about this when I came back that day. I really haven’t hidden anything from you.”

“Impossible. Absolutely impossible. There must be something going on.” Lin Xiangxi insisted. “If something happens to you later, and I don’t know anything, Mom will kill me.”

Lin Xiangdong couldn’t do anything about this spy, so he could only say, “Since I don’t have those intentions, there’s no need to talk about it, so as not to affect the girl’s reputation.”

Since he didn’t say anything, Lin Xiangxi couldn’t do anything either, so he could only keep a closer eye on him during his vacation.

Then, Lin Xiangxi saw Lin Xiangdong being cornered by Zhou Kangmei.

“You stinky woman, dare to bully my brother!” Lin Xiangxi didn’t say a word, rolled up his sleeves and charged.

Zhou Kangmei looked at Lin Xiangxi in shock.

It turned out that not only Lin Xiangdong was oblivious, but both brothers were oblivious.

Lin Xiangdong quickly stood up and pulled Lin Xiangxi back, “Little brother, don’t be impatient. She didn’t bully me. We were discussing something.”

“You can’t let her get away with it just because she’s the director’s daughter.” Lin Xiangxi was half-convinced, putting on a brave front. “What’s so great about the director’s daughter? We, the working class, are the ones in charge, we’re not afraid of any director.”

“That’s your future sister-in-law, and you’re talking to her like that?” Zhou Kangmei questioned.

“What?” Lin Xiangxi widened his eyes and turned to look at his brother.

If there wasn’t anything going on, Zhou Kangmei wouldn’t have dared to say that.

Lin Xiangdong’s ears turned red, but his expression remained serious, “Zhou Comrade, please watch your words. I haven’t written to my mother to ask for her opinion yet, so this isn’t certain.”

“Then I’ll wait for your news.” Zhou Kangmei smiled sweetly at him.

After saying that, Zhou Kangmei left, leaving Lin Xiangxi alone in embarrassment.

On the way home with Lin Xiangdong, Lin Xiangxi kept a straight face, “Embarrassing, so embarrassing!”

“Not embarrassing, not embarrassing, when you rushed to protect me, I was so touched. My little brother has grown up…” Lin Xiangdong quickly comforted him.

But his words were useless, Lin Xiangxi was still full of resentment.

“I thought you were a man of integrity, with a strong character. Who knew you would be corrupted by sugar-coated bullets! I really misjudged you!”

Lin Xiangdong couldn’t help but explain for himself, “Because Zhou Comrade is a very good person.”

“Anyway, the most important thing is that you like her. You’re happy, then Mom will be happy.” Lin Xiangxi crossed his arms. “You’re dating, so I don’t have to do intelligence work anymore.”

“Mom might not be happy.” Speaking of this, Lin Xiangdong’s expression also became gloomy.

“Why?” Lin Xiangxi was puzzled.

“Zhou Comrade is an only child. The Zhou family’s intention is that Zhou Comrade’s future children should have one of them take the Zhou surname.”

By this calculation, Zhou Kangmei would have to have at least two children.

This was also the reason why Director Zhou was so eager. Seeing that the birth control policy was getting tighter and tighter, Director Zhou was also quite anxious.

It just so happened that Zhou Kangmei had her eyes on Lin Xiangdong, and she hadn’t been able to win him over for so long, so he directly went to Lin Xiangdong to express his intentions and pressured him to get married.

Lin Xiangxi cautiously looked at Lin Xiangdong’s face, “Does that count as marrying into the family? Did you agree? Will Mom object?”

These days, the reputation of eating soft rice and marrying into the family wasn’t very good. If the family had some money and could afford to marry a wife, they wouldn’t think about marrying into the family.

“Only one child will take the Zhou surname, that doesn’t count as marrying into the family. But Mom… she might object.” Lin Xiangdong put his arm around his little brother’s shoulder. “So I hope you can say some good words for me in your letters.”

Lin Xiangxi was about to cry, “Mom is not the kind of person who can be persuaded with two good words. Mom will think of me as your accomplice and scold us together.”

He said that being a spy was not easy.